In addition, PWS causes insatiable hunger, which can pose a deadly threat to children Austin's age.

“You have to watch them constantly,” the 38-year-old Rebecca said. “It's really dangerous because they can eat so much that their stomachs burst.”

Since people with PWS never feel full, Rebecca said she and her family have to lock up food in their kitchen to keep Austin from getting to it when no one can closely monitor how much he is eating.

She said she used to throw birthday parties for her son, but the cakes and snacks are often too tempting. Austin spent the last birthday party they attended crying because he was so hungry for the sweets that were served.

The family also lost Austin's 3-week-old brother, Cullen, on Aug. 2, 2009, the day after Austin's fifth birthday. Cullen died from multiple chromosomal abnormalities.

Rebecca, mother to Austin and 13-year-old brother Caleb, said she was eager to find something to focus on and remind Austin that, though the family still mourns this time of year, his birthday is something to celebrate.

This year, a friend suggested celebrating his birthday a different way.

In late June, Rebecca posted her address on her Facebook page and asked for friends to send her son a card for his birthday. Within a day or two, cards started arriving in the mail.

She said she expected her friends to share the idea with their friends but didn't think it would go any further than that.

Loupe said letters have come from all over the country — and one as far away as Europe.

“I don't even know anyone who's in Europe,” Rebecca said.

When they collect the letters from the mailbox each day, Rebecca reads aloud where each one is from, and Austin cheers the same for all of them, whether they come from across the country or down the street.

She said she had planned to let Austin open all the cards on his birthday, Aug. 1, but they may have to start earlier to get through all of them.

“My plan was to wait,” Rebecca said. “But we have so many; maybe I'll let him do one a day until his birthday.”

She got the idea from her friend Bobbi Harrigan, of Madisonville, who said she got the idea for her son from Facebook.

Loupe and Harrigan met through a support group. Harrigan's son, Matthew Surgenor, also suffers from PWS.

Surgenor received more than 200 cards when he turned 18 in May.

“So many of them were just from friends of friends of friends,” Harrigan said. “People just responded to it really well.”

And in this case, she said, a small gesture can go a long way.

“A card puts a smile on anybody's face,” Harrigan said. “It's amazing what it does for these kids.”

She said the cards are almost as big a gift to the parents as they are to the recipients.

Since the syndrome impacts one in 12,000 to 15,000 people, Harrigan said parents have a difficult time finding others going through the same thing.

“We are isolated,” she said. “When people reach out to our kids, it's good for us too. It's good to know someone cares.”

Rebecca agreed.

“It's not always easy,” she said. “It's a 24-hour job.”

But Rebecca said the trials they've been through have made the family closer and stronger.

“I wouldn't trade him for the world,” she said, beaming at Austin as he danced around the family's living room.

Rebecca said the family is not asking for gifts, but if any of the cards they receive contain money, she plans to buy Austin a bike with training wheels built for a child of his stature.

She said she wants to thank all the family members, friends and total strangers that have given Austin so much happiness over the past month.

<p>Every day when 8-year-old Austin Loupe gets home from school, he excitedly walks to the mailbox, eager to see what's waiting for him inside.</p><p>He has a right to be excited. Since June, Austin, of Lockport, has received more than 180 birthday cards, letters and packages in the mail. </p><p>Inside his family's house, boxes full of birthday messages are lined up next to the refrigerator. </p><p>“I got cards!” Austin shouts as he jumps up and down and points at the boxes with a grin on his face.</p><p>Austin was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome at 3 weeks old. </p><p>His mother, Rebecca Loupe, said the syndrome causes low muscle tone, difficulty speaking and autistic tendencies.</p><p>In addition, PWS causes insatiable hunger, which can pose a deadly threat to children Austin's age.</p><p>“You have to watch them constantly,” the 38-year-old Rebecca said. “It's really dangerous because they can eat so much that their stomachs burst.”</p><p>Since people with PWS never feel full, Rebecca said she and her family have to lock up food in their kitchen to keep Austin from getting to it when no one can closely monitor how much he is eating.</p><p>She said she used to throw birthday parties for her son, but the cakes and snacks are often too tempting. Austin spent the last birthday party they attended crying because he was so hungry for the sweets that were served.</p><p>The family also lost Austin's 3-week-old brother, Cullen, on Aug. 2, 2009, the day after Austin's fifth birthday. Cullen died from multiple chromosomal abnormalities.</p><p>Rebecca, mother to Austin and 13-year-old brother Caleb, said she was eager to find something to focus on and remind Austin that, though the family still mourns this time of year, his birthday is something to celebrate.</p><p>This year, a friend suggested celebrating his birthday a different way.</p><p>In late June, Rebecca posted her address on her Facebook page and asked for friends to send her son a card for his birthday. Within a day or two, cards started arriving in the mail.</p><p>She said she expected her friends to share the idea with their friends but didn't think it would go any further than that.</p><p>“I guessed maybe we'd get 30 or 50,” she said. “I never expected this.”</p><p>Loupe said letters have come from all over the country — and one as far away as Europe.</p><p>“I don't even know anyone who's in Europe,” Rebecca said.</p><p>When they collect the letters from the mailbox each day, Rebecca reads aloud where each one is from, and Austin cheers the same for all of them, whether they come from across the country or down the street.</p><p>She said she had planned to let Austin open all the cards on his birthday, Aug. 1, but they may have to start earlier to get through all of them.</p><p>“My plan was to wait,” Rebecca said. “But we have so many; maybe I'll let him do one a day until his birthday.”</p><p>She got the idea from her friend Bobbi Harrigan, of Madisonville, who said she got the idea for her son from Facebook.</p><p>Loupe and Harrigan met through a support group. Harrigan's son, Matthew Surgenor, also suffers from PWS.</p><p> Surgenor received more than 200 cards when he turned 18 in May.</p><p>“So many of them were just from friends of friends of friends,” Harrigan said. “People just responded to it really well.”</p><p>And in this case, she said, a small gesture can go a long way.</p><p>“A card puts a smile on anybody's face,” Harrigan said. “It's amazing what it does for these kids.”</p><p>She said the cards are almost as big a gift to the parents as they are to the recipients.</p><p>Since the syndrome impacts one in 12,000 to 15,000 people, Harrigan said parents have a difficult time finding others going through the same thing.</p><p>“We are isolated,” she said. “When people reach out to our kids, it's good for us too. It's good to know someone cares.”</p><p>Rebecca agreed.</p><p>“It's not always easy,” she said. “It's a 24-hour job.”</p><p>But Rebecca said the trials they've been through have made the family closer and stronger.</p><p>“I wouldn't trade him for the world,” she said, beaming at Austin as he danced around the family's living room.</p><p>Rebecca said the family is not asking for gifts, but if any of the cards they receive contain money, she plans to buy Austin a bike with training wheels built for a child of his stature.</p><p>She said she wants to thank all the family members, friends and total strangers that have given Austin so much happiness over the past month.</p><p>“I'm still in shock. I'm in awe,” she said. “I don't have any words.”</p>